es-Sabīl is interpreted in thirteen ways:
1. Sabīlullāh: In the obedience of Allah / for the sake of obedience to Allah; as in the following verses:
The example of those who spend their wealth in sabīlullāh {that is, for the sake of obedience to Allah}... (al-Baqara 2:261)
Spend in fī-sabīlullāh {that is, for the sake of obedience to Allah}! (al-Baqara 2:195)
Those who believe fight in fī-sabīlullāh {that is, for the sake of obedience to Allah}... (al-Nisāʾ 4:76)
There are many similar commands.
2. Sabīl is used in the sense of being able to reach / having power and means; as in the following verse:
Hajj to the House is a duty owed to Allah by all people who are able to make their way to it {that is, those who can reach it: those who can obtain provisions and a mount and thus are able to reach and perform the Hajj}. (Āl ʿImrān 3:97)
3. Sabīl is used in the sense of exit; as in the following verses:
See how they strike examples for you and have gone astray, but they cannot find a sabīl {that is, an exit}. (al-Isrāʾ 17:48)
A similar example is found in Sūrat al-Furqān.
Until death takes them or Allah ordains for them a sabīl {that is, an exit from prison}. (al-Nisāʾ 4:15)
4. The word es-Sabīl is used in the sense of conduct / custom; as in the following verses:
Do not marry women whom your fathers married, except what has already occurred. Indeed, it was an immorality and hateful, and it was an evil sabīl {that is, conduct / custom}. (al-Nisāʾ 4:22)
And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and evil is the sabīl {that is, evil conduct}. (al-Isrāʾ 17:32)
5. Sabīl is used in the sense of pretext; as in the following verse:
Admonish those women from whom you fear arrogance... But if they obey you, seek no sabīl {that is, pretext} against them! (al-Nisāʾ 4:34)
6. Sabīl is used in the sense of religion; as in the following verses:
Whoever follows other than the sabīl {that is, religion} of the believers... (al-Nisāʾ 4:115)
Thus, those who attempt to take a sabīl {that is, religion} in between... (al-Nisāʾ 4:150)
Invite to the sabīl {that is, religion} of your Lord with wisdom! (al-Naḥl 16:125)
There are many similar verses.
7. Sabīl is used in the sense of hudā/hudā (guidance); as in the following verses:
Whomever Allah lets go astray from {guidance}, you will never find for him a sabīl {that is, a way to hudā / guidance}. (al-Nisāʾ 4:88)
And whomever Allah lets go astray from {guidance}, there will never be for him a sabīl {that is, a way to hudā / guidance}. (al-Shūrā 42:46)
8. Sabīl is used in the sense of ḥujja/proof; as in the following verse:
Allah will never give the disbelievers over the believers a sabīl {that is, a ḥujja/proof}. (al-Nisāʾ 4:141)
9. Sabīl is used in the sense of ṭarīq / path; as in the following verses:
Except for the oppressed among men, women, and children who cannot devise a plan nor are they directed to a sabīl {that is, do not know the way to (emigrate to) Medina}. (al-Nisāʾ 4:98)
Perhaps my Lord will guide me to sawāʾ as-sabīl {that is, the straight path leading to Midian}. (al-Qaṣaṣ 28:22)
10. Sabīl is used in the sense of the path of guidance; as in the following verses:
Those are the ones whose abode is worse and who are further astray from sawāʾ as-sabīl {that is, the path leading to guidance}. (al-Māʾida 5:60)
They have strayed from sawāʾ as-sabīl {that is, the path leading to guidance}. (al-Māʾida 5:77)
There are many similar verses.
11. Sabīl is used in the sense of enmity; as in the following verse:
But whoever avenges himself after having been wronged—there is no sabīl {that is, enmity} against them... The sabīl {that is, enmity} is only against those who wrong people. (al-Shūrā 42:41-42)
12. Sabīl is used in the sense of obedience to Him / Allah; as in the following verses:
I only desire that you be among those who take a sabīl to their Lord {that is, choose the path of obedience to their Lord}. (al-Furqān 25:57)
Indeed, this is a reminder. So whoever wills may take to his Lord a sabīl {that is, choose the path of obedience to Him}. (al-Muzzammil 73:19)
It is also used in this sense in Sūrat al-Insān.
13. Sabīl is used in the sense of nation [religion and sharia]; as in the following verse:
Say: "This is my sabīl" {that is, my nation [religion and sharia]}. (Yūsuf 12:108)